Sharing Economy Advisory Network Created As Resource for Cities

August 14, 2014

San Francisco - The National League of Cities announces the formation of a network composed of business, policy leaders and city officials to identify the regulatory challenges posed by the disruptive technologies that power the sharing economy.

The Sharing Economy Advisory Network will create and promote model solutions that can be adopted by communities across the nation as they work to resolve these questions. The Network will also look to identify ways that cities can support and encourage the growth of new businesses in this space.

"Cities across the country have been struggling to respond to the rapid emergence of the Sharing Economy," said Clarence Anthony, National League of Cities executive director. He continued, "Cities are looking for ways to update and improve their current regulatory framework to ensure that regulations like safety and health protect residents, while at the same time supporting the growth of new businesses. It is imperative for cities to learn how this industry operates and discover ways to engage in order to support these new modes of doing business and to create jobs."

The formation of the network comes after a number of cities and businesses have had difficulties establishing working relationships that allow the sharing economy to flourish. The network will identify new best practices for League of Cities members.

"Our goal is to provide information that helps elected officials bring the sharing economy to their constituents," said Emily Castor, Director of Community Relations at Lyft, and Chair of the Sharing Economy Advisory Network. Castor continued, "The sharing economy is based on local interactions between neighbors so it makes sense to build a strong partnership with local leaders in those communities. Helping to create consistent regulations across all markets will make it easier for communities to take advantage of all the new benefits that the sharing economy provides."

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.